Some Farm Forestry Research Problems

Farm forests occupy an important place in the forest economy of our country and make substantial contributions to the income of tamers. Nevertheless, as a whole, these forests are producing much below capacity. Of the 461 million acres of commercial forest land in the U. S., 30 per cent, or some 139 million acres, is in farm ownership; yet this farm forest area contains only about 16 per cent of our saw-timber stand in spite of the fact that it includes some of the most productive land available. Some 72 per cent of the farm forests is not managed and another 17 per cent is extensively managed; each is returning only a fraction of its potential yield. If these forests are to contribute their full share to farm income and assist in the development of a healthy forest economy, they must be put in shape and placed under intensive management